Final Email- Part One

Dear Family and Friends,

I’m so sorry for not writing much in my letters home as of late, but I’d like to make up for that this week as well as the next with more reflective and meaningful thoughts on these past two years as a whole. My mission has easily been the greatest thing to ever happen to me and it’s by far been the best thing I’ve ever done. My heart is filled with gratitude as I reflect and recognize the Lord’s hand in these two years that I’ve tried to be a worthy representative of Him. Over two years ago, an apostle of the Lord inspiredly assigned me to the mission Chile Santiago Norte and the Savior has continued inspiring his servents while placing me in 6 areas and with 8 different companions (9 including the MTC). I hope each companion knows how grateful I am for them, for what they have taught me, and how they’ve helped me to grow. By name, I’d like to describe what I’ve learned from each companion.

Elder Michael Ricks, Idaho Falls, Idaho- AREA: MTC

I entered the MTC with the notion that my preparation for the mission field would essentially come down to how well I could master the Spanish language and how well I could teach the gospel. While those skills are both important for missionary success, I came to realize that I would be just as the Pharisees of Jesus’ time if I wasn’t also continually developing Christ-like attributes. Through small and simple acts, Elder Ricks showed me all that I was still lacking in order to become a representative of Jesus Christ.

Elder Ricks

Elder Chase Smith, Highland, Utah- AREA: ROSENDE

My initial fears were calmed as I got to know my trainer and I realized that he was a hard-worker and an obedient missionary. In my fragile phase as a young, moldable missionary, I learned principles such as obedience, true and sincere repentance, diligence, study, and honesty which would become the foundation blocks for the rest of my mission. I feel SO blessed to have had the trainer that I did.

Elder Smith

Elder Carlos Conde, Lima Peru- AREA: GALVARINO 1

Following my training, I had many companions, but none of them lasted even a week with me (because of several  emergency transfers) so ultimately I ended up with Elder Conde. This was my first time being Senior companion and I really didn’t know what in the world I was doing. I’m grateful for his patience, positive humor, and humility in supporting me in my assignment as Senior companion even though he had 13 months more of experience as a missionary. I learned a lot during those 10 weeks together.

Elder Conde 

Elder Samuel Langston, Mesa, Arizona- AREA: GALVARINO 1

I’m not sure that it’s possible to enjoy life as much as we did during those 12 weeks. We worked hard and we found ways of achieving new levels of success. My assignment was to train him, but I honestly was overwhelmed by the responsibility. I learned that there’s a time and a place for everything and in the work of He who makes the Plan of Happiness possible, there is plenty of time to smile. I’ve been able to see him grow throughout his 17 months in the mission and it has been a source of joy to see him excel in his mission.

Elder Langston

Elder Dante Ortiz, San Diego, California- AREA: DORSAL

With Elder Ortiz I learned to not waste even one minute in this sacred work. His first companion was not a very motivated person, so during his first 12 weeks, he didn’t get to work a whole lot. Elder Ortiz is really smart and as his trainer would sleep, Elder Ortiz studied the gospel. This was frustrating for him as he was learning so much, but he couldn’t do much with what he learned. During those 6 weeks together, we did not waste a minute and tried to talk to literally everyone. Many people that we talked to during those 6 weeks were baptized and we both left that change with a firm resolution to not waste a single minute.

Elder Ortiz

Elder Edward Dussan, Neiva Colombia- AREA: DORSAL

In the ways that really count, I changed the most while with Elder Dussan. It was really hard sometimes being with someone as Christ-like as Elder Dussan because just being with him reminded me how much I still needed to improve. He was a convert of 2 years who truly experienced a mighty change of heart and lost all disposition to do evil, but rather to do good continually. I was also assigned to train him, but he ended up training me to be a true disciple of Christ in all time, all things and in all places.

Elder Dussan 

Elder Nathan Heaps, American Fork, Utah- AREA: LAMPA 1

It was a funny transition being with someone half my size (Elder Dussan) to then being with this giant BYU tight end. I learned so much that change that would help me become a leader for the rest of my mission. I love being around highly competitive athletes because of the high standards they keep themselves to and Elder Heaps definitely had high standards for everything in the mission work. It was too bad I didn’t get to be his last companion, but I learned so much from the one change I was with him that I can’t complain either.

Elder Heaps

Elder Calvin Santos, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil- AREAS: VESPUCIO AND LOS OLIVOS
The companion I had for the longest time (almost 6 months) and in a letter home in September I described all that we did together. What I most learned from Elder Santos is to never be embarrassed of being spiritual. He was very good at turning a normal conversation with a group of missionaries into a spiritually edifying experience. Because of the assignment we had, we were often with new missionaries and mission leaders, and Elder Santos consistently created spiritual experiences out of those moments.

Elder Santos

Elder Dolenar, Mesa, Arizona- AREA: LOS OLIVOS

My last companion helped me to keep going until the end. I learned with Elder Dolenar to change the culture of the mission and that’s the biggest thing we’ve accomplished together. He has the vision necessary to do big things and in these two changes we´ve seen huge growth in the mission and almost everyone has started to buy into President Meservy´s vision of the Chile Santiago North Mission thanks to Elder Dolenar. He helped me to keep going until the end and I´ll forever be thankful for that. He´s become a good friend and I´ve loved working with him. People must be really confused that see us walking in the streets because we talk in a weird combination of Spanish, Haitian Creole, and a little bit of English. I´m thankful to him for being a great final companion.

Elder Dolenar